Hydraulic valve



March 1955 B. A. DETERS EI'AL 2,703,695

HYDRAULIC VALVE Filed Sept. 25, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' BRUCE Q. DETERSMOED/Cfi O. JOHNSTON I N V EN TOR.

Ha m m Mm 07' TUBA/E6 5 March 1955 a. A. DETERS ETAL HYDRAULIC VALVE 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 23. 1952 7 7 Q i MWWHMWVE, 47 Wifi 10 f gm A\li HTTOPNEVS United States Patent HYDRAULIC VALVE Bruce A. Deters andMordica 0. Johnston, Glendale, Calif., assignors to Johnston Testers,Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Delaware Application September 23,1952, Serial No. 311,107

6 Claims. (Cl. 251-54) This invention relates to oil well tools and inparticular to a tool including a valve and a hydraulic arrangement foroperating the valve. The novel tool of the present invention is ideallysuited for incorporation in a formation fluid tester as a substitute forcertain assemblies thereof, and the specific embodiment of our inventionto be described hereinafter is shown incorporated in such a tester, butthe invention is not intended to be limited to such use.

In a formation tester, such as disclosed in the patent to Mordica O.Johnston entitled Formation Tester and granted Mar. 9, 1937, there isincluded a main valve in the body of the tester, a trip valve adjacentthe top, and a packer to be set prior to the opening of the trip valveand at least partially and preferably fully set before the opening ofthe main valve. The main valve is opened by a partial telescopicmovement of parts of the tester, while the trip valve is opened bydropping a go-devil down the drill string supporting the tester.

In cold climates or during cold seasons, mud and Water freeze on theinside of the drill pipe while it is at the surface, and when the pipeis added to the string, and lowered into a well, the mud and water meltsbecause of the higher temperatures in the well, so that the liquidtrickles down the pipe and collects above the trip valve. It is apparentthat this liquid has a cushioning effect on the go-devil, renderingoperation of the trip valve un-. certain.

It is a main object of the present invention to provide a valve and anarrangement for operating the valve which is not affected by liquidcollecting at the top of the tester.

Another main object of the present invention is to provide a valve and avalve operating arrangement of the above general type which can beincorporated in a formation fluid tester to replace both the main valveand the trip valve thereof; to provide a hydraulic valve operatingarrangement having delayed valve-opening characteristics so that thevalve it controls will not he suddenly opened upon encounter of thetool, as it is lowered into a well, with a bridge or other similarobstruction; and to provide a tool having a valve carrying resilientsealing means which are moved to a position of protection when formationfluid is jetting through the open valve.

Various other objects of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figs. 1a, 1b, and 1c are successive longitudinal midsectional views of aformation fluid tester having a tool embodying the concepts of thepresent invention incorporated therein, showing the parts in running-incondition with the valve closed.

Figs. 2a and 2b are views similar to Figs. 1a and lb, showing the partsin the positions they assume after the packer has been set and the valveopened.

Figs. 3a and 3b are views similar to Figs. la and lb, showing the partsduring closing of the valve.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, there is disclosed aformation fluid tester including an upper section 9, which comprises thetool of the present invention, and a lower section 11 which forms thelower part of the conventional formation fluid tester. Lower section 11includes a packer 13 adapted to be set in a well bore to separate thezone to be tested from the drilling mud and other liquid above saidzone.

Upper section 9 includes an inner composite tubular mandrel 15,connected at its upper end by a sub 17 to the lower end of a string ofdrill pipe 19, and an outer composite tubular mandrel 21, connected atits lower end by a sub 23 to the lower section 11 of the tester, andslidably receiving the inner tubular mandrel.

Inner tubular mandrel 15 is closed at its lower end by a spring loadeddownwardly opening check valve 24, and has valve ports 25 formed thereinadjacent said lower end. Ports 25 are normally closed by a valve sub 27within which they are normally disposed. The lower end of the innermandrel carries on its exterior a series of 0 rings 29 disposed aboveports 25 in sealing engagement with sub 27, and an upper set 31 and alower set 33 of 0 rings below ports 25 in sealing engagement with sub27.

Valve sub 27 and lower sub 23 are connected to one another by the usualbox and pin connection, and valve sub 27 has formed therein, above theupper end of the pin on lower sub 23, an annular recess 35 larger thanits tubular bore and communicating with longitudinal passages 37 formedin the walls of said lower sub.

It is apparent from Fig. In that inner mandrel 15, in running incondition, extends upwardly out of outer mandrel 21, and can be moveddownwardly until sub 17 engages the upper end of said outer mandrel,such movement moving ports 25 down into registry with recess 35 to opensaid ports to formation fluid passing up through passages 37 into saidrecess. Such movement does not occur (and is not desired to occur) untilafter packer 13 has been set, and a means for preventing the opening ofvalve ports 25 until the packer is set will now be described.

Connected to valve sub 27 is a tubular section 39, and to section 39 atubular section 41, the latter section at its upper end having aninwardly extending flange 42 provided with 0 rings 43 in sealingengagement with inner mandrel 15. Section 41 is also slidably butnonrotatably held in contact with said inner mandrel by splines 45. Itis evident that there is an annular chamber provided between sections 39and 41 and the inner mandrel 15, which is filled with hydraulic fluidthrough openings 47 closed by suitable plugs.

Formed on mandrel 15 intermediate its ends is an enlargement 49, thebottom of which provides a frustoconical valve seat 51 normally engagingthe upper complemental end of a valve sleeve 53. Valve sleeve 53 isinteriorly fluted to provide hydraulic fluid passages between saidsleeve and mandrel 15. The exterior of the valve sleeve has a diameteronly slightly less than the interior of tubular section 39 so as toprovide a restricted annular hydraulic fluid passage between said valvesleeve and outer tubular mandrel 21 (tubular section 39 obviously beinga part of said outer composite tubular mandrel).

Below enlargement 49, inner mandrel 15 is formed with an upwardly facingshoulder 55 supporting a radially ported ring 57, which has its interiorspaced from the interior of inner mandrel 15. When valve sleeve 53 isseated on the ring, hydraulic fluid can readily travel from above tobelow said valve sleeve by passing down between seat 51 and the upperend of said valve sleeve, between said valve sleeve and mandrel 15 andout through the ports in ring 57.

In order to prevent the formation of voids in the hydraulic fluidchamber, the lower end of tubular section 39 is ported at 59 to allowthe pressure of well fluid and drilling mud to be exerted against thelower end of an annular piston 61, disposed between section 39 and innermandrel 15 in sealing engagement with each. Upon the escape of any fluidfrom the chamber, the piston will be moved up by well pressure tomaintain the effective volume of the chamber equal to the volume of thefluid therewithin.

In operation, the tool is arranged in the condition shown in Fig. 1awith valve sleeve 53 against valve seat 51, and mandrel 15 disposed atthe upper end of its stroke so that valve ports 25 are closed by sub 27.When running into the well, the valve ports will not be opened becauseof engagement of the lower end of the tester with a bridge or similarobstacle, because ready upward movement of outer mandrel 21 relative toinner mandrel 15 is prevented by valve sleeve 53 being seated on itsseat.

When the testing zone is reached, .the'packer can be set by operations(described in the aforementioned patent) including a partial impositionof the'weight of the drill string on the upper end of the tester, oninner mandrel 15 in the present instance, which force is transmittedthrough the hydraulic valve operating arrangement to outer mandrel 21and thence downwardly to section 11 of the tester. This partialimposition of the weight of the drill string on inner mandrel tends toforce said mandrel downwardly relative to the outer mandrel, whichmovement is resisted by the trapped hydraulic fluid below valve sleeve53, said sleeve being firmly seated against seat 51 to prevent upwardflow of the trapped fluid between said sleeve andthe mandrel, and hencethe fluid is slowly forced through the restricted passageway betweensaid sleeve and the outer mandrel. The delay period before said innermandrel has been forced downwardly to expose ports 25 within recess 35,1s sufiicient to allow setting of packer 13. Therefore, the informationzone is separated from the drilling mud and other fluids above the zoneprior to the opening of the mam valve (ports 25') of the tester. Thisinsures the entrapment of a less contaminated sample than wouldotherwise be the case.

It is pointed out that rings 31 and 33 will be disposed within theprotective confines of sub 23, when inner mandrel is moved downwardly toexpose ports 25, while 0 rings 29 will remain within the protectiveconfines of valve sub 27. Contact of the rings with formation fluidjetting up through passages 37 in sub 23 and 1nto inner mandrel 15 willbe avoided, therefore maintaining the sealing rings in condition foreffective sealing engagement with the interior of valve sub 27 after theformation fluid sample has been taken.

After the testing period is over, an upward pull on the drill stringraises inner mandrel 15 to separate seat 51 from the upper end of valvesleeve 53, and brings ring 57 into engagement with the lower end of saidvalve sleeve, see Fig. 3a. Further upward movement of the drill stringis readily permitted because the hydraulic fluid above valve sleeve 53can freely pass between valve seat 51 and the upper end of said valvesleeve, down between the valve sleeve and inner mandrel 15, and outthrough the ports in ring 57.

If during the test, sand has settled or collected within recess 35,rings 31 will loosen the sand enough to permit rings 33 to come throughthe sand without damage, so that rings 33 may correctly seal against theinterior of valve sub 27 to retain the sample within the tester anddrill string.

It is apparent that the tool can readily be reset by picking up on drillstring 19, if for any reason, such as spudding, the inner and outermandrel have been telescoped toward valve-opening position.

By the present invention, a tool has been provided including a valve anda hydraulic valve operating arrangement therefor, which valve operatingarrangement is effective to transmit. a force therethrough to enablesetting of a packer therebelow, and operable upon a continuedapplication of such force to open the valve. Because of the delayedoperating characteristics of the valve operating arrangement, the valvewill not be suddenly opened because of the engagement of the tester (orother tool in which the tool of the present invention is incorporated)with a bridge or similar obstacle within the well. Although thehydraulic valve operating arrangement has been shown and described asbeing disposed above the main valve (ports 25), it is apparent that thearrange mentcould be reversed.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, various changesmay be made therein by persons skilled in the art without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising inner and outer mandrelstelescopically arranged for longitudinal movement relative to oneanother, a valve formed on the mandrels adapted to be openeduponrelative longitudinal movement one waybetween themandrels,.hydraulic means 'for retarding suchmovement, said hydraulicmeans being operable'to readily permit relative longitudinal movement of,said mandrels the opposite way, said hydraulic means including afluid-filled passage formed in the outer mandrel, a plug carried by theinner mandrel obstructing the passage, a restricted passagewayby-passing the plug, said plug including a sleeve slidably fittingwithin the passage and surrounding the inner mandrel, and a valve memberon the inner mandrel adapted to seat against the sleeve.

2. A device of the class described, comprising inner and outer mandrelstelescopically arranged for longitudinal movement relative to oneanother, a valve formed on the mandrels adapted to beopened uponrelative longitudinal movement one way between the mandrels, hydraulicmeans for retarding such movement, said bydraulic means being operableto readily permit relative longitudinal movement of said mandrels theopposite way, said hydraulic means including a fluid-filled passageformed in the outer mandrel, a plug carried by the inner mandrelobstructing the passage, a restricted passageway by-passing the plug,said plug including a sleeve slidably fitting within the passage andsurrounding the inner mandrel, and a valve member on the inner mandreladapted to seat against the sleeve, there being a passageway extendingbetween the sleeve and inner mandrel.

3. A device of the class described, comprising an outer tubular mandreland an inner tubular mandrel telescopically arranged for longitudinalmovement relative to one another, said inner mandrel having a lateralport adjacent the lower end thereof, said lower end being closed to theupward flow of fluid therethrough, said outer mandrel having an enlargedrecess into which the ported portion of the inner mandrel can beprojected, upon downward movement thereof, to establish communicationbetween the recess and the interior of the inner mandrel, hydraulicmeans for retarding such downward movement, said hydraulic meansincluding a fluid-filled passage formed in the outer mandrel, a plugcarried by the inner mandrel obstructing the passage, a restrictedpassageway by-passing the plug, said plug including a sleeve slidablyfitting within the passage and surrounding the inner mandrel, and avalve member on the inner mandrel adapted to seat against the sleeve.

4. A device of the class described, comprising an outer tubular mandreland an inner tubular mandrel telescopically arranged for longitudinalmovement relative to one another, said inner mandrel having a lateralport adjacent the lower end thereof, said lower end being closed to theupward flow of fluid therethrough, said outer mandrel having an enlargedrecess into which the ported portion of the inner mandrel can beprojected, upon downward movement thereof, to establish communicationbe- -tween the recess and the interior of the inner mandrel,

hydraulic means for retarding such downward movement, said hydraulicmeans including a fluid-filled passage formed in the outer mandrel, aplug carried by the inner mandrel obstructing the passage, a restrictedpassageway by-passing the plug, said plug including a sleeve slidablyfitting within the passage and surrounding the. inner mandrel, and avalve memberon the inner mandrel adapted to seat against the sleeve,there being a passageway extending between the sleeve and inner mandreladapted to be closed when the valve member seats on the sleeve.

5. A device of the class described, comprising an outer tubular mandreland an inner tubular mandrel telescopically arranged for longitudinalmovement relative to one another, said inner mandrel having a lateralport adjacent the lower end thereof, said lower end being closed to theupward flow of fluid therethrough, said outer mandrel having an enlargedrecess into which the ported portion of the inner mandrel can beprojected, upon downward movement thereof, to establish communicationbetween the recess and the interior of the inner mandrel, and hydraulicmeans for retarding such downward movement, said inner mandrel carryingspaced sealing means thereon below the port, said outer mandrel having areduced portion below the recess dimensioned to slidably receive thelower end of the inner mandrel,

said outer mandrel having passages formed therein by passing the reducedportion and communicating with the recess.

6. A device of .the class described, comprising. an outer tubularmandrel and an, innertubular mandrel telescpp ically arranged'forlongitudinal movement relative to one another, said inner mandrel havinga lateral port adjacent the lower end thereof, said lower end beingclosed to the upward flow of fluid therethrough, said outer mandrelhaving an enlarged recess into which the ported portion of the innermandrel can be projected, upon downward movement thereof, to establishcommunication between the recess and the interior of the inner mandrel,and hydraulic means for retarding such downward movement, said innermandrel carrying spaced sealing means thereon below the port, said outermandrel having a reduced portion below the recess dimensioned toslidably receive the lower end of the inner mandrel, said outer mandrelhaving passages formed therein by-passing the reduced portion andcommunicating with the recess,

there being sealing means on the inner mandrel above 15 said port, saidhydraulic means being operable to readily permit upward movement of theinner mandrel to withdraw said ported portion of the inner mandrel fromthe recess.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

